"We reserve the right to act unilaterally in America's best
interest around the world. And at home we will vigorously
pursue sex and drug-related crimes."

9/11 occurs

"There is no way anyone could have known about the imminent
terrorist threat."

Evidence surfaces that they could have known

"Bill Clinton should have done something about the imminent
terrorist threat. But we at the Bush White House had no way
of knowing about them."

Evidence surfaces that they were in fact warned specifically
about them

"We have launched an FBI probe to find the source of these
very serious leaks, which are a threat to our national security."

The US attacks Afghanistan

"Osama Bin Laden and Mullah Omar are the 9/11 villains, and
the focus of our attacks. There's an old poster from the old
west, 'Wanted Dead or Alive' -- and by golly, we'll get them."

They don't get them

"This war was never about getting any one man. This war is
about stopping the Al Qaeda terrorist network."

They arrest thousands of people -- including American
citizens -- with no proven connection to Al Qaeda

"We have to face the fact that this war calls for drastic
new measures in order to protect Americans. Also, it may never
end."

The President and his party's poll number start to slip

"The greatest terrorist threat to America is Iraq, which
is directly connected to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. If
we are going to stop Al Qaeda it is essential that we have
a 'regime change' in Iraq"

No connection between Iraq and 9/11 is established

"The issue is not whether Iraq is connected to Al Qaeda or
even to 9/11. The issue is that Saddam Hussein has weapons
that could fall into the hands of terrorists. He has prevented
weapons inspectors from doing their jobs, and without weapons
inspectors we can't know what weapons he has."

The world and the nation recommend going to the UN to
insist on the return of weapons inspectors

"We don't need the UN. We reserve the right to act unilaterally
to protect America, including launching -- for the first time
in our history -- a pre-emptive strike on another nation,
because we can prove that he has weapons of mass destruction
that he is ready to use on America and/or its allies"

No proof is offered that Saddam has weapons of mass destruction
that he is ready to use on America and/or its allies. Many
individuals and nations suggest the best first step would
be to insist in the return of weapons inspectors

"Iraq is a menace that we intend to stop no matter what the
world thinks. We can't let American security be held hostage
by the UN."

World outrage. Domestic polls show little support for
attack on Iraq without allies. Analysts point out how Bush's
father successfully created coalition in 1991. High-ranking
GOP officials object to White House strategy. Significant
economic dip from fearful markets. Fears of foreign investment
flight

"The President has always intended to make his case to the
United Nations, as he has ALWAYS believed that the rule of
International law is paramount."

Bush goes to UN on a Thursday

"Iraq is in violation of the UN resolution that he allow
unconditional, unfettered weapons inspectors. If the UN wants
to be relevant then it must insist that Iraq allow weapons
inspectors. Otherwise we will have no choice but to invade."

The following Monday Iraq agrees to unconditional, unfettered
weapons inspectors

"This has never been about 'weapons inspectors'. This is
about Saddam's weapons of mass destruction. There is no way
that inspectors can find Saddam's weapons because he hides
them too well."